Differential expression of SNMP-1 and SNMP-2 proteins in pheromone-sensitive hairs of moths

Chem Senses. 2008 Mar;33(3):291-9. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjm087. Epub 2008 Jan 21.

Abstract

In moths the detection of female-released sex pheromones involves hairlike structures on the male antenna. These long sensilla trichodea usually contain 2-3 chemosensory neurons accompanied by several supporting cells. Previous studies have shown that the pheromone-specific neurons are characterized by a "sensory neuron membrane protein" (SNMP) which is homologous to the CD36 family and localized in the dendrite membrane. By employing the SNMP-2 sequence from Manduca sexta we have isolated cDNAs that encode SNMP-2 proteins from Heliothis virescens (HvirSNMP-2) and Antheraea polyphemus (ApolSNMP-2). To elucidate the topographic and cell type-specific expression of these SNMP subtypes, 2-color in situ hybridization experiments were performed with tissue sections through the male antennae. For H. virescens, a specific probe for the pheromone receptor HR13 was used to identify pheromone-responsive neurons. It was found that HvirSNMP-1 and HR13 were coexpressed in the same cells; in contrast, HvirSNMP-2 was not expressed in HR13 cells but rather in cells that surrounded the HR13 neurons, apparently the supporting cells. A corresponding expression pattern was also found for ApolSNMP-1 and ApolSNMP-2 on the antenna of male A. polyphemus. Our results indicate that SNMP-1s and SNMP-2s are differentially expressed in cells of pheromone-sensitive sensilla and suggest distinct functions for the 2 SNMP subtypes in the olfactory system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Library
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Lepidoptera
  • Male
  • Manduca
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Moths / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Neuroglia / metabolism*
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Receptors, Pheromone / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Pheromone
  • sensory neuron membrane protein 1
  • sensory neuron membrane protein 2, Antheraea polyphemus

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AM905328
  • GENBANK/AM905329